What does economics say regarding authoritarian rightwing govts and growth?

Economist47ad

The most amazing economic recoveries in history were by and large effected by strong authoritarian conservative leaders. This is not isolated to the usual examples of Mussolini and Hitler. South Korea achieved an amazing recovery from the Korean War under the leadership of General Park Chung-hee. So did Taiwan under the Kuomintang and Singapore led by Lee Kwan Yew. Russian president Vladimir Putin was aware of this legacy and he consciously studied the leadership and ideology of these figures and emulated them in Russia. Now Russia seems to have made a tremendous come back from the lows of the 1990s. Why do authoritarian rightwing political systems do so well economically? May democracy actually be bad for economic growth?

The most amazing economic recoveries in history were by and large effected by strong authoritarian conservative leaders. This is not isolated to the usual examples of Mussolini and Hitler. South Korea achieved an amazing recovery from the Korean War under the leadership of General Park Chung-hee. So did Taiwan under the Kuomintang and Singapore led by Lee Kwan Yew. Russian president Vladimir Putin was aware of this legacy and he consciously studied the leadership and ideology of these figures and emulated them in Russia. Now Russia seems to have made a tremendous come back from the lows of the 1990s. Why do authoritarian rightwing political systems do so well economically? May democracy actually be bad for economic growth?

Maybe serious economists don't care only about GDP. Do you think that a doctor would suggest people not to have intercourses if this would increase their life expectancy by a couple of years?

All the leaders cited above used some form market socialism and active state intervention. They were first influenced by Fabian socialism, but might have become conservative in cultural traits in later years. And let us not forget the US opened its markets for their products, so they benefited through learning by doing.Singapore also benefited from favorable geography and location.

The most amazing economic recoveries in history were by and large effected by strong authoritarian conservative leaders. This is not isolated to the usual examples of Mussolini and Hitler. South Korea achieved an amazing recovery from the Korean War under the leadership of General Park Chung-hee. So did Taiwan under the Kuomintang and Singapore led by Lee Kwan Yew. Russian president Vladimir Putin was aware of this legacy and he consciously studied the leadership and ideology of these figures and emulated them in Russia. Now Russia seems to have made a tremendous come back from the lows of the 1990s. Why do authoritarian rightwing political systems do so well economically? May democracy actually be bad for economic growth?

New Institutional Economics talks about it and i think it gets it quite right.

They can only explain at most 5% of the economic development of Singapore, Taiwan and South Korea. You will have to see the heterodox literature for the other 95%. Not because they have access to AER and QJE they are doing economics which explains the process of development.